Have you had a destination wedding or finally sold your wedding dress online and now need to figure out how to ship it? today is your lucky day because we have put together the ultimate guide on how to pack and ship a wedding dress.
- pack it properly. This will ensure that the dress is not damaged during transportation. (Remember, the box will be loaded onto trucks, conveyor belts, and possibly planes. Handlers won’t realize the precious cargo inside.)
- Insurance: Insure it for the value/sale price.
- tracking: use a traceable method and require a signed authorization.
- international shipments will have import duties and fees: Buyers should be aware of their country’s duties and taxes when importing a dress from another country. every country is different!
- who pays for shipping? Usually, the buyer pays the cost of shipping (and any duties or taxes, if applicable). this quantity is added to the asking price for a final quantity.
- use a strong corrugated cardboard box. find one at your local post office or ups store for a minimal cost (usually less than $5).
- get a box that’s big enough. the larger the box, the higher the shipping costs (even for the same weight). ups has 24x18x5 and 18x16x9 boxes (and many more options). look for something in that range. (find the nearest ups location).
- fold the gown as needed and use plastic wrap to cover it ( in the unlikely but possible event that the box gets wet).
- Seal flaps and seams with heavy-duty mailing tape that is a minimum of two inches wide.
- place the shipping label on top and avoid placing the label over a seam/zipper or on top of tape. place a duplicate label (with a phone number) inside the box.
Shipping costs will vary depending on the location and dimensions of your package (expect a large dress to cost more to ship than a simple slipcover). Once you know your buyer’s location, you can get a shipping estimate from any of these carriers.
calculate shipping costs
calculate shipping costs
calculate shipping costs
international shipment of a wedding dress
if you are shipping your dress from usa. uu. To Canada, you can get a tax estimate here. customs/duties for other international shipments should be discussed directly with your shipping provider. you can expect to pay import fees, local taxes (just like a normal purchase), and any taxes your government may have imposed on the importation of apparel.
detailed guide: how to pack and ship a wedding dress
take it out of the storage box
We recommend removing the dress from the sealed box to take photos and show the buyer its current condition. Buyers will want to confirm if there are any small flaws (such as a missing button) before purchasing, and these are details that may go unnoticed before it is sealed. These images also allow the buyer to assess the current state condition so they don’t have surprises when they buy.
You can always include photos of your dress in the box and then remove it and put it on a hanger to take a couple extra photos to show how it currently looks and check the tags. Make sure you wash your hands and don’t apply hand lotion before handling the dress, as body oils and lotions can damage the dress.
get the right box
Any old box won’t do when it comes to shipping a wedding dress. and you probably don’t know exactly what size and sturdiness you need (unless you’re in the shipping business). The best place to get a box to ship your wedding dress is at the bridal shop where you bought it.
You see, most bridal shops receive wedding dress deliveries every day. And lucky for you, they usually save a few boxes for when they have to ship the dresses. These are the perfect boxes to ship a wedding dress to because that’s what designers use to ship dresses to boutiques.
If you can’t get a box from a bridal boutique, then you can get one from a local UPS or FedEx store. you will want to get a box that is slightly larger than your dress when folded in half. do not buy a box that is too small because then you will have to put your dress in it, which can damage it and will surely cause wrinkles. this will make the presentation of your dress when unboxed look horrible.
Most wedding dresses fit in an 18 x 16 x 9 box.
prepare your dress
We all know what happens to boxes when they are placed on delivery trucks or on a plane. Have you ever seen loading and unloading luggage on a plane? Or watch your local delivery man drop off boxes in the rain? what! To protect your dress from damage, you should take the time to prepare it properly before packing it in the box.
if your wedding dress has beading, you will need to wrap it with some kind of muslin fabric. doing this prevents the fabric from getting caught in the beads, resulting in snagging, pulling, and running. you definitely don’t want that!
once you wrap it, the next step is to fold it. If your bridal shop will help, ask them to turn it over before folding it. again, if there are beads, they will need to add the muslin cloth before turning it over. this is a little unknown tip that most people don’t know about! (you can thank us later). why is it important to turn it around? If your box gets damaged, crushed or worse… gets wet during shipping, having the gown inside out will protect the outer layers. the layers that would be affected would be the lining and tulle rather than the pretty outer parts of the dress.
Once it’s inside out, place it in a clear plastic clothing bag. Your bridal shop should have them, and while they may charge you for them (just a couple bucks), they will help protect your dress in case the box gets wet.
then you can fold it; bodice to hem. this should allow it to fit nicely in the box.
the presentation
This part is essential. do not put your wedding dress in the box in a messy way. make it look pretty so the person who bought it will enjoy unboxing it. use some acid-free tissue paper to line the box and wrap around your robe. something pretty like soft pink or light blue tissue paper would be great!
seal it with a kiss
Once your dress is properly prepared and carefully wrapped in pretty tissue paper, the next step is to seal the box. be sure to use heavy-duty packing tape. seal along the center of the flaps that open and down each side. this helps prevent the box from being opened during shipping (you know if it gets thrown on the truck and plane).
If you are sending it to another girlfriend, you might consider adding a small thank you note inside the box. your new girlfriend will love this extra special touch.
note: if you receive a box from the bridal boutique it is a used box. there may be some small holes from other deliveries. be sure to tape them down as well. it’s just an added precaution.
tag it
This is not an absolutely necessary step, but we think it can help with the handling of your dress during the shipping process.
Get the biggest marker you can find and write (neatly) “wedding dress” on the outside of the box.
secure it
don’t miss this step! And don’t skimp on how much insurance you put on it. The best thing to do is add insurance to the package for the “full value” of the wedding dress. this is essential if the package is lost or stolen.
sign for it
another helpful tip is to add the “signature required” to your package. yes, this is an additional fee, but if you don’t require a signature to receive the package, it will be left at your door. if you sit on the doorstep waiting hours for someone to come home, you could be robbed.
fast delivery
In order to limit the amount of damage exposure your wedding dress receives, you should consider shipping it as quickly as possible. instead of mailing or shipping by ground, upgrade to overnight or two-day shipping.
that’s it! how to pack & ship a wedding dress from start to finish. our final advice may be the best of all. If you don’t have to send it, don’t. if you have a destination wedding, travel with the dress yourself. For more wedding planning tips and inspiration, check out our blog.